Billszone Draft Guide - Defensive Backs
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With Nate Clements entering his last year on his contract, will the Buffalo Bills seek a replacement for their Pro Bowl CB in this draft? The top 28 defensive backs are profiled by NFL Scouting.
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| Cornerbacks | Bills Depth Chart |
| Starters-
RCB Nate Clements
LCB Terrance McGeeBackups-
Jabari Greer, Kevin Thomas, For all the worries the Bills have on offense, their defense will again be rock solid. The secondary should be one of the stronger units in the league if they can remain healthy. When Troy Vincent went down with an injury, Terrance McGee emerged as more than just a fantastic return man. After taking some lumps early, McGee settled in and helped the unit create plenty of turnovers. Opposite of McGee is the veteran Nate Clements, who was rewarded with his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Vincent, originally signed as a replacement for the departed Antoine Winfield, will now slide over to Free Safety. Jabari Greer and Kevin Thomas provide adequate depth. The Bills may not be as active in free agency at the corners, but look for the Bills to address depth in this area in the draft. Clements is entering the final year of his deal in 2005. |
First Round Value
Antrel Rolle CB 6-1, 205 Miami
Regarded as one of the premier cornerbacks in the nation, Rolle has exceptional closing ability and is one of the team's fastest players. Because most teams don't throw at him, he often blitzes from his cornerback position. Rolle plays the run extremely well and can also return punts and play on special teams coverage units. Rolle closed out his career with 183 tackles (129 solos), 4½ sacks for minus-36 yards, 16 stops for losses of 105 yards, three fumble recoveries and 21 pass deflections. He gained 73 yards and a touchdown on five interceptions, 203 yards and a score on 13 punt returns (15.6 avg.) and 44 yards on a pair of fumble returns.
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Positives: Has a big, athletic frame with solid overall muscle tone, trimmed upper body with good arm and chest definition, well-developed bubble and hamstrings … Self-motivator who pushes his teammates due to his hard work ethic … Shows good short area quickness and agility … Changes direction well, maintaining balance and quickness in transition … Has a good feel for the pass and makes almost instant decisions when attacking the ball …
Negatives: Can be fooled by play action and is not as quick to react to the ball when playing outside the box, taking too many chances and will get caught peeking into the backfield … Better when playing in the short area, as he does not have the sustained speed playing off the receivers in man coverage
Positives: Shorter than ideal, but has a well-built, compact frame with a well-defined upper body, strong grip, good bubble, high calves and minimal body fat … Has outstanding change-of-direction agility and speed … Can jump with good timing and has above-average hand/eye coordination … Likes and accepts challenges and seems to rise to the occasion when playing against elite competition …
Pacman Jones CB 5-10, 187 West Virginia
Jones is a big-play cornerback who also excelled as one of college football's premier return specialists. He is considered by many to be the finest defensive player produced at West Virginia in the last decade. In two seasons as a starter at the demanding "bandit" cornerback position, he allowed only one touchdown catch, and that was the result of losing site of the ball in a glaring sun. He closed out his three-year career with 22 starts in 36 games, producing 201 tackles (139 solos) with two sacks for minus-14 yards, nine stops for losses of 23 yards, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. He deflected 22 passes and had eight interceptions for 156 yards in returns and a touchdown. His 22 pass breakups rank eighth on the school's career-record list.
Positives: Shorter than ideal, but has a well-built, compact frame with a well-defined upper body, strong grip, good bubble, high calves and minimal body fat … Has outstanding change-of-direction agility and speed … Can jump with good timing and has above-average hand/eye coordination … Likes and accepts challenges and seems to rise to the occasion when playing against elite competition … Studies film and is always looking for ways to improve …
Negatives: Wants to make the play against the run, but because of size and bulk limitations, is only effective doing this on the perimeter (gets engulfed when working in-line) … Needs to show better hand technique in attempts to shed and disengage at the point of attack … Does a good job of reading the quarterback, but will sometimes peek into the backfield too long, taking him out of position
Carlos Rogers CB 6-0, 199 Auburn
Rogers is an unheralded athlete who provided excellent leadership for a young Tigers secondary in 2004. Called a "coach on the field" by the Auburn staff, he is known for his excellent leaping ability, finishing second on the Southeastern Conference's career-record list with 40 pass deflections.
In 50 games with the Tigers, Rogers started 44 times. He holds the school career record with 40 pass deflections and also intercepted seven passes. Rogers accounted for 182 tackles (134 solos) with eight stops for losses of 17 yards and two fumble recoveries.
Positives: Well-built, strong athlete with good overall muscle tone, broad shoulders, thick chest, long, muscular arms, good bubble and a V-shaped torso … Tough, physical player who takes well to hard coaching … Showed great improvement in his play in 2004, as he no longer seemed hesitant in his reactionary skills or afraid of giving up the big play … Shows good acceleration to the ball and looks comfortable playing the wide corner position in a Cover-2 scheme, where he can sit and read underneath and break downhill … He has exceptional timed speed, but sometimes it does not translate to the field (takes extra steps in transition) …
Negatives: Showed much more confidence in his athletic ability in 2004, but in the past he would struggle in off coverage and give up too much cushion on the ball. It looked like he was hesitant to give up the big play … Has improved his work habits, but will do his "own thing" at times and needs to work in a structured environment to get the best out of his skills …
Thomas Davis FS 6-1, 220 Georgia
Davis is regarded by many as one of the finest athletes ever produced by Georgia. Blessed with the size of a linebacker and the quickness of a cornerback.
Davis opted to enter the 2005 NFL Draft rather than return to school for his final season. He finished his Georgia career with 39 games and 25 starts. Davis posted 272 tackles (179 solo) with 10½ sacks for minus-75 yards, 17 stops for losses of 101 yards and 27 quarterback pressures. He recovered four fumbles for 23 yards in returns and a touchdown, and also caused six fumbles. Davis gained 45 yards on three interceptions, 25 yards and a score on two blocked punts and deflected nine passes.
Positives: Big, strong, physical athlete with a V-shaped torso, thick chest, broad shoulders, muscular arms, large hands, good bubble, thick thighs and calves … Does everything the coaches ask, is a workout warrior and pushes others when they see his work ethic … Has good field smarts and is quick to see and read plays, especially the run … Shows quick reaction to what he sees in front of him and he is rarely caught out of position … Can lay back and play centerfield with good timing to make the play on the ball …
Negatives: Will sometimes peek into the backfield too long, and thus struggle some to recognize a developing pass play … Plays with reckless abandon, but needs to improve his plant and drive, as he will get a little too reckless and over-pursue …
Fabian Washington CB 5-10, 188 Nebraska
Washington was a mainstay in the Huskers secondary for each of his three seasons in the Nebraska program. The Florida native earned a starting job as a true freshman and was a key performer for the Blackshirts for three consecutive seasons.
Positives: Smooth looking athlete with good instincts and linear speed … Shows adequate toughness and handles his assignments with good urgency … Has very good ability to change direction and shift gears while running … Can reel in the slack in a hurry, showing fluid hips and quickness in transition … Not fooled by play action and it does not take him long to digest the plays …Negatives: Has added bulk to his frame in the last year, but still does not have the size or strength to prevent bigger receivers from pushing him around through the routes … Needs to get more physical and aggressive in his play … Marginal tackler who will uncoil, but does a poor job of wrapping up …
Justin Miller CB 5-10, 200 Clemson
An exciting big-play specialist, Miller joins Bobby Gage (1945-48) as the only Clemson players to ever score a touchdown on a kickoff return and a punt return. The talented junior has proven to be a dangerous threat as a return artist, holding the school's career record with a kickoff return average of 30.7 yards.
Positives: Has a lean, but muscular frame with good arm definition, tight waist, good bubble and knotted calves … Has excellent timed speed and is fluid and light on his feet … Looks graceful working in space, showing fluid change of direction agility and very good acceleration coming out of his breaks … Tough competitor with a winning temperament … Shows good ball recognition skills and has no problems taking the plays from the board to the field (earned conference academic honors) … Can diagnose the play without hesitation and has good instincts locating the ball …
Negatives: Showed marked improvement in 2004 after having a poor season as a tackler in 2003 … Makes a good effort to take the receivers and ball carriers down, but is more of a collision type tackler and lacks proper wrap-up technique …
Quick to spot the ball, but will get a little over aggressive and this causes him to out-run the play … Does give good effort in run support, but is best making tackles on the move, as he lacks the strength and bulk to face up to blockers at the point of attack …
Marlin Jackson CB 6-1, 200 Michigan
The unquestioned leader of the Wolverines' defense, Jackson was also one of their most versatile players. He played every position in the secondary, but still went on to set several school records.
Positives Tall, rangy athlete with a slender but defined frame with long arms and tight skin … Can play all secondary positions and is a smart, instinctive athlete who has the range to make plays in pursuit … Shows very good man- and zone-coverage skills, reacting quickly to the ball in flight … Has outstanding instincts and a good knowledge of the defense, making all of the adjustment calls in the secondary …
Negatives … Gathers himself a bit in transition and while he can backpedal and turn, he looks a little awkward moving in reverse … Can be fooled by play action, but does a good job of coming up to support in the short area … Uses his hands effectively to redirect receivers early in their routes, but gambles too much in man coverage and that causes him to be caught away from the play … Needs to show more aggression and get physical with the receivers in press coverage, and seems to lack cover sense when his back is to the ball …
Second Round Value
Eric Green CB 5-11, 200 Virginia Tech
An outstanding kick blocker on special teams, Green also took on a positive leadership role while starting every game at cornerback as a senior. Green is the type of player who combines excellent athletic ability with speed and experience. He has come back strong to help solidify the secondary since missing the entire 2002 season with a knee injury.
Positives: Has a long, lean build with adequate muscle definition, but does have room for additional growth … Has very good short-area quickness with an explosive break on the ball … Has no problems retaining plays and is rarely caught out of position due to his ability to quickly make reads and keys … Has above-average change-of-direction agility, balance and body control, doing a nice job of keeping plays in front of him …
Negatives: Has added strength to his frame, but still lacks ideal size … Has the strength, but needs to get more physical in coverage, as he sometimes gets pushed around by the bigger receivers when trying to dictate route progression … Will get turned around some in man coverage when he peeks into the backfield too long …
Corey Webster CB 6-0, 200 LSU
Originally recruited as a wide receiver, Webster shifted to the defensive side of the ball as a sophomore. He became one of the most decorated defensive backs in school history. A two-time first-team All-American at cornerback for the Tigers, he was also a three-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and was twice named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, which goes to college football's top defensive back.
Webster closed out his Tigers career with 117 tackles (88 solos), a 5-yard sack, 5½ stops for losses of 19 yards, a fumble recovery and three forced fumbles. He gained 181 yards on 16 interception returns and deflected 51 passes.
Positives: Has an athletic build with a V-shaped torso, tight skin, muscular upper body, thick legs and long arms … Fluid and sudden open-field runner with the quickness to change direction … Displays loose hips and very good range … Uses his long arms to get a good push in attempts to re-route and press receivers at the line of scrimmage …
Negatives: While quick, he is not field fast (timed speed) and may have problems covering the faster receivers at the next level … Will bite on the opponent's double moves … Has adequate ability to read pass plays, but can be fooled by activity in the backfield and lacks the strength to come up hard to plug the rush lanes … Lacks the explosion needed to recover when beaten …
Stanford Routt CB 6-1, 190 Houston
Positives: Has a big frame with good muscle mass and development throughout … Built for speed and shows a very quick initial burst … He shows a feel to come back on the ball and can flip-and-run from press coverage … Flashes the foot quickness to plant and drive … Can break on the ball and compete for it and when he gets into stride, and covers plenty of ground … Has the leaping ability and body control to adjust to the ball … Good hands catcher who can reach and pluck with confidence … Better in zone coverage than playing the man, as he gets good depth in his pass drops and reacts with good angles.
Negatives: Needs to play under control, as he relies too much on his speed and will get reckless and over-run the play … Shows good toughness in man coverage, but needs to get more physical and aggressive in run force, as he does not seem eager to finish off the play working near the line of scrimmage … Lacks a good backpedal and does not stay in it long …
Stanley Wilson CB 6-0, 185 Stanford
Positives: Has exceptional timed speed and acceleration … Very effective on deep routes, as he has the quickness to stay stride-for-stride with the receivers on go routes … Has a good feel for the play developing and shows awareness working in zone coverage … Will not be fooled by play action and shows the burst to close underneath … Displays the second gear needed to quickly recover when beaten … Uses his leaping ability effectively to compete for the jump ball.
Negatives: Has an almost frail looking frame with lean muscle and a lack of bulk … Track man with a sprinter's body … Looks very mechanical when having to change direction … Lacks aggression in his play and gets pushed around by the bigger receivers … Still learning proper coverage technique and can be beaten by good double moves … Does not plant and redirect smoothly when in coverage …
Brodney Pool FS 6-1, 207 Oklahoma
On a very talented defensive unit, Pool was the unquestioned leader of the Sooners secondary. Called the best defensive back in the Big 12 Conference since former Oklahoma safety Roy Williams terrorized opponents, Pool is a playmaker who must be accounted for on every play.
Positives: Well-built athlete with long arms, defined chest and arms, thin waist, good bubble and knotted calves … Very sharp breaking-down plays and does a good job of calling adjustments in the secondary … Smooth, efficient mover with a good burst to make plays in pursuit …
Negatives: While he shows good strength, he is not the type that can get physical or punish an opponent … Needs to add more bulk and strength to his frame … Decent wrapup tackler, but lacks explosion behind his hits …
Ernest Shazor SS 6-4, 228 Michigan
Built like a linebacker but blessed with the speed of a cornerback, Shazor is the prototype strong safety -- big, strong, aggressive and quick. He has drawn comparisons to Philadelphia Eagles standout Brian Dawkins for his explosive burst and knack for making big plays
Positives: Shazor has a muscular, cut-up lower and upper body frame, with good arm length, lean waist, low body fat, good bubble and muscular legs … His frame has the potential to carry at least another 15 pounds for a potential move to linebacker … Despite his young age, the coaching staff cited his leadership skills and ability to make calls and adjustments in the secondary … Shows good ability to quickly read and react, possessing a good understanding of games and schemes … Has the outstanding speed needed to mirror and run with the receivers over the middle and down field …
Negatives: Still developing his body frame and is possibly too tall to play safety, but does not have the bulk yet to play linebacker at the next level … Needs to play in better control, as he gets a little reckless on the field and this causes him to over-run plays …
Josh Bullocks FS 6-0, 210 Nebraska
Positives: Has a physique with adequate muscle definition, tight waist and hips, good bubble and thick thighs … Solid student athlete who has no problems taking the plays from the board to the field … Spends extra time reviewing film and is well liked by the staff and teammates … Shows good quickness, agility and balance with above-average change-of-direction skills and flexibility … Quick to sniff out the pass play and has an adequate closing burst on the ball …
Negatives: Not as effective defending vs. the run as he is in pass coverage … He is not around the line much, as size and strength issues see him get stymied when trying to face up to offensive linemen … Needs to use his hands with more force in attempts to press and jam before the receiver is able to get into the route … More of a chess master who will try to finesse on the play rather than step up and play with aggression (needs to develop a mean streak) …
Third Round Value
Brandon Browner CB 6-3, 229 Oregon State
Positives: Browner is a physically strong athlete with a tall, muscular frame, long arms, V-shaped torso, good bubble, thick thighs and calves … Reads the quarterback's release well and shows good desire to get to the ball as the play develops … Gets to the ball in a hurry, showing a sudden burst when driving on the ball … Shows the catch-up speed and range to get into pursuit … Displays good vertical-jump ability, timing his leaps to get to the ball at its high point (15 deflections, six interceptions) … Negatives: Has a good short-area burst, but is a bit of a long strider in the open … Fluid in his backpedal, but is a little stiff on the turn and may lose a step in deep coverage … Will hit and wrap with authority, but will revert to arm tackling on occasion … Better as a press-coverage defender than as a trail type, as he is still a little inconsistent with his footwork …
Darrent Williams CB 5-9, 180 Oklahoma State
Few defensive players have the ability to change the tide of the game the way Williams has during his Oklahoma State career. An outstanding pass thief with blazing speed and natural hands, Williams has also proven to be a dangerous threat as a punt returner. Positives: Has a short, compact, but very muscular build … Instinctive player with very good key and diagnostic ability … Quick-twitch type with excellent speed and man-coverage ability … Has the playing speed for man coverage, easily running with the receiver on deep routes … Very productive playing the ball, showing good timing ability on his leaps and natural hands to field the ball …
Negatives: Naturally strong athlete, but is not a fan of run support, doing it begrudgingly … Has had durability and character issues ever since arriving on campus … Had a positive drug test as a freshman, but has worked hard to steer clear of those problems since … Not a physical tackler, as he shows marginal consistency due to a lack of striking power and will get run over by the bigger blockers when working close to the line … Lacks ideal size and bulk, but does show natural power …
Donte Nicholson SS 6-1, 210 Oklahoma
Nicholson is regarded as one of the most physical tacklers in the country, reminding the Sooners coaching staff of former All-American Roy Williams for the way that he punishes ballcarriers and tight ends.
Positives: Has a tall, lean and almost wiry frame, but possesses broad shoulders, long arms, large hands, good speed and strength … Shows good straight-line quickness and is a good worker in the weight room, as his power translates to the field … Flashes timing to break on the ball and make the play … Hits like a linebacker, but has more than enough quickness and athletic ability to play deep in pass coverage … Takes proper angles in pursuit and keeps outside leverage …
Negatives: Not that instinctive, as he is only adequate to react to plays and blocking schemes initially, but once he locates the ball, he will play with good urgency … While he hits with good explosion, ballcarriers sometimes slip off those tackles, as he does not always generate strength to shock and jolt … When stepping up to fight combo blocks, he lacks the strength to maintain position at the point of attack …
Ronald Bartell CB 6-1, 210 Howard
Bartell is an extremely talented and versatile defender. He began his college career at Central Michigan, where he started as a free safety, strong safety and boundary cornerback. He transferred to Howard in 2003, where he manned the boundary cornerback slot for the last two years.
Positives: Has a well-defined upper body with broad shoulders, thick chest, long arms, good bubble and large hands … Confident athlete who loves to dare the quarterback to throw to his side … Shows quick feet and the ability to recover quickly when beaten … Does a very good job retaining plays and bringing them from the board to the field …
Negatives: His weight room figures do not translate to the football field … Has good strength, but fails to demonstrate it in run force … Slow to come up and support vs. the run, as this is not a favorite part of his game … Has loose hips, but when he takes false steps, it slows down his turns … Needs to work on his footwork, as he fails to get good leverage or maintain balance in his backpedal …
Domonique Foxworth CB 5-11, 180 Maryland
Domonique Foxworth is an athletic defensive back who started for the third straight season in 2004 at the field cornerback position and was Maryland's most experienced defensive player.
Positives: Hard worker with a good ethic … Runs with a normal stride and can accelerate quickly … Has no problems taking the play from the board to the field … Shows a decent burst to get to the ball once he is able to locate it … Can cover ground with his catch-up speed … Lacks top-end speed, but has enough quickness and instincts to stay tight with a receiver in man coverage …Negatives: Frame lacks good muscle definition and mass … Has marginal leg thickness, a small bubble and a small stature … Struggles to recognize routes, but does have a burst to get there once he locates the ball … Despite his good leaping ability, he seems to shy away going up for the ball … He does not time his leaps well, and even though he had eight interceptions, lacks natural hands and the result has been attempted several pass thefts resulting in breakups instead …
Second Day Value
Scott Starks CB 5-9, 175 Wisconsin
Strengths: Has excellent speed with a burst...Good overall athleticism...Has a ton of experience...Very tough and plays bigger than he is...Has had a knack for making the big play during his career. Weaknesses: Undersized...Needs to add some bulk and hit the weight room to get stronger...Will struggle against the big, physical wideouts he will have to face in the pros...Upside may be limited and he could max out as a nickel corner at best. Notes: Also a track star in college...Doesn't have the size you look for but could make a mark for himself as a backup corner...His speed, experience and production should get him drafted.
Sean Considine FS 6-0, 211 Iowa
Positives: Has an athletic build with developing upper body muscle tone, firm midsection and hips and only 9.7-percent body fat … Sensational kick blocker who times his leaps and has a knack for finding the ball … Intelligent athlete who will rarely bust an assignment … Studies film and has no problems retaining plays … Has good straight-line speed and is better when playing in the box than in the deep zone … Shows a strong closing burst, getting a decent break on the ball …
Negatives: Does not have the timed speed or flexibility to handle man coverage, as receivers too often get him turned around and dictate the route progression … Spends more time chasing than covering in one-on-one situations … Can move in reverse, but shuffles his feet, causing him to look choppy trying to turn in transition … Struggles to find the ball with his back turned and can be beaten over the top …
Antonio Perkins CB 5-11, 190 Oklahoma
Perkins is an electrifying open-field runner who set school, conference and NCAA records as a punt returner during his career. His 277 yards on punt returns vs. UCLA in 2003 set an NCAA Division I-A game record and his eight touchdowns scored on punt returns during his career tied the NCAA record.
Positives: Perkins has a well-developed lower body, with broad shoulders, long arms, thin waist and minimal body fat … Smooth, sudden athlete who shows very good body control and change-of-direction agility … Clean in his breaks and has no wasted motion coming out of his backpedal … Has great work habits and pushes his teammates due to his work ethic … Team player who took over leadership responsibilities on a young squad …
Negatives: Seemed to regress a bit in recognizing play action as a senior, but he was trying to compensate for a knee injury and was playing closer to the line, where he is not as effective as a tackler when working in tight quarters … Will lend support vs. the run, but does not have the strength to face up to the larger blockers and struggles to shed because of marginal hand usage at the point of attack …
Kelvin Haydon CB 5-10, 200 Illinois
Kelvin Hayden is a rising star who made the switch to cornerback after originally joining the Illini as a wide receiver. Called by the coaching staff the "team's best athlete," Hayden provided the team with steady play and big plays at whatever position the staff asked him to play.
Positives: Has a well-built physique with good upper-body muscle definition … Split high with fairly long legs … Solid contributor and team player who can also play on special teams …
Negatives: More quick than fast and might be better suited for safety, where his speed limitations vs. the blazing receivers will not come into play … Needs backpedal technique improvement, as he shuffles his feet and needs to open his hips better in transition …
O.J. Atogwe FS 5-11, 220 Stanford
One of the best-kept secrets in college football, except to opposing tight ends and running backs who have felt the wrath of this hard-hitting tackler. The two-year starter is an active, aggressive playmaker who led the team in tackles in each of his last three seasons. Atogwe also was a member of Stanford's nationally-ranked track team in 2001 and 2002.
Positives: Has broad shoulders, long arms, narrow hips, good bubble and knotted calves … Fluid and sudden athlete who excels as a centerfielder in coverage … Smooth in his backpedal, staying low in his pads to turn easily coming out of his backpedal … Has the acceleration to cover ground quickly and has the balance and speed to stay on a slot receiver in upfield action …Negatives: Lacks ideal size, but can compensate with power … Good playmaker, but sometimes plays too conservative, as if he is afraid that he will pay for it if he gambles … A step slow at times to read and react to the run, as he does not show suddenness in attacking the line …
Ellis Hobbs CB 5-9, 190 Iowa State
Positives: Has a tight waist and hips and minimal body fat (5.7 percent) … Aggressive athlete who makes plays against the run and pass and has also proven to be a very effective gunner on the punt coverage unit … Can also handle kickoff return duties in an emergency … Coachable, committed player who sometimes overworks in the weight room but shows good dedication … Has a good nose for the ball and is especially active in run support … Plays the ball aggressively …
Negatives: Has marginal size (5-foot-9) and a lean, yet compact build … Does not do a good job of playing off the receiver, as he tends to lose a step because of hip stiffness and does not have that second gear needed to recover …
Daven Holly CB 5-10, 192 Cincinnati
Positives Has a small, but developing frame, with room to add more bulk with no loss in speed … Hard worker in the weight room and on the field … Has quick feet and excellent straight-line speed, showing explosion coming out of his breaks … Demonstrates the body control and balance to come out of his backpedal and mirror the receiver on deep routes …
Negatives Has marginal playing strength … Will give a good effort to contain along the perimeter, but lacks the "sand in his pants" to hold ground and is not strong enough with his hands to ward off blocks … Shows good ball anticipation skills, but is still learning how to make proper reads and keys …
Dustin Fox CB 5-11, 190 Ohio State
Played in 47 games as a Buckeye and made 37 starts … Started 28 consecutive games at the boundary corner … Was named to a second-team spot on the All-Big Ten team last season, but is still a vastly underrated player … Was a true leader and one of the most consistent performers on the team … Gave the Buckeyes a rock-solid veteran in the defensive backfield … Had seven career interceptions and 217 tackles to his credit … Ranked first and second the last two seasons, respectively, on the team in solo tackles … Came to Ohio State as a safety but was moved to cornerback as a freshman …
Vince Fuller FS 6-1, 190 Virginia Tech
Fuller is a hard-hitting tackler who returned to his natural position, free safety, after playing cornerback as a sophomore and junior. He is a smart player who did a very capable job of handling the secondary calls as a senior. He has outstanding timed speed and the range to play the deep zone
Positives: Has good overall muscle definition in his upper body, defined arms and broad shoulders … Shows a quick break on the ball and is very smooth turning out of his backpedal … Smart and competitive player with adequate ability to diagnose … Has the speed to recover when he makes mistakes in man coverage …
Negatives: Has lean sprinter's-type legs with smooth muscle tone … Struggles in man coverage, as he looks slow in transition when trying to plant and drive on the ball … Gets too high in his backpedal and will then have to play catch-up to recover and get back on the receiver …
Travis Daniels CB 6-1, 194 LSU
Positives: Instinctive player who moved from safety to cornerback … Has a tall, wiry frame with room for additional growth … Intelligent athlete who is rarely caught out of position and knows how to use the sidelines to his advantage … Shows a quick forward charge and times his leaps well to attack the ball in the air … Has a sharp straight-line burst and will not be fooled by play action or double pumps …
Negatives: Must add needed bulk to his frame … Has an underdeveloped body with no meat on his thighs, legs and calves … Has experience at all secondary positions, but may be better suited for free safety due to a lack of acceptable speed to play effectively in man coverage … He does a good job attacking the ball downfield, but is sometimes late to react when playing in off coverage …
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